China.org.cn | September 25, 2024
Zhang Jianhua:
Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. I am glad to join you today in witnessing the release of the white paper "China's Energy Transition." First, I would like to thank you for your interest in and support for China's energy sector.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, following a new energy security strategy aimed at revolutionizing consumption, supply, technology and institutions, while strengthening all-round international cooperation, China has accelerated its energy transition, and pursued a path of energy transition that is suited to its actual conditions and meets the changing needs of our times. Ms. Shou just introduced the structure of the white paper, and I will briefly introduce the main contents of the document from four aspects.
First, the white paper systematically expounds the fundamental concepts of China's energy transition, which can be summarized as five principles. Putting the people first, China has always prioritized meeting people's needs for a better life and ensured people have a greater sense of gain and fulfillment in energy use. Pursuing green and low-carbon development, we have accelerated building an energy supply system dominated by non-fossil fuels, and promoting harmony between humanity and nature. Serving national development, we have applied the practice of establishing the new before discarding the old and pursed an orderly transition, ensuring secure and stable energy supply while accelerating green transition development. Boosting innovation as an impetus for growth, we are relying on technological and institutional innovation to promote green, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy development. Expanding opening up and cooperation, China upholds the vision of a global community with a shared future, and works with all countries to promote sustainable energy development. China respects the rights of developing countries to independently choose their own transition paths, and advance energy transition in an equitable, just and orderly fashion.
Second, the white paper comprehensively introduces China's achievements in energy transition practices, as demonstrated in the following four aspects: Clean energy development has made notable progress. By the end of 2023, the total installed capacity of power generation by wind and photovoltaic (PV) increased tenfold compared to a decade ago, with clean energy accounting for 58.2% of total installed capacity. Over half of the increase in total electricity consumption has come from newly added power generated by clean energy. The proportion of clean energy consumption in total energy consumption rose from 15.5% to 26.4%, while the proportion of coal consumption decreased by 12.1 percentage points. New achievements have been made in clean and effective energy utilization. In the past decade, China phased out over 100 million kilowatts of outdated coal power capacity, reducing pollutant emissions from the power sector by over 90%. The electrification rate of society-wide final energy consumption stood at 28%. Compared with 2012, energy consumption per unit of GDP decreased by more than 26%. Green energy technology has achieved new breakthroughs. China has built complete industrial chains for the R&D, design and manufacturing of wind and PV equipment, mastered the nuclear power technologies of third-generation pressurized water reactors (PWRs) as well as fourth-generation high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. China has become a front-runner throughout the hydropower industrial chain. Institutional energy reform has achieved new progress. A diversified energy market structure is gradually taking shape, a unified and open energy market system is gradually improving, and an energy pricing mechanism reflecting market supply and demand is gradually forming. The role of the market in enhancing the consumption of clean energy, ensuring electricity supply, and optimizing resource allocation is increasingly evident. The third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made new deployments on further deepening energy reform, aiming to further improve the mechanisms for green, low-carbon development and accelerate the construction of a new energy system.
Third, the white paper objectively demonstrates the contributions China has made to global green development. China has been a promoter and contributor in the global endeavor of energy transition. Over the past decade, China has been responsible for over 40% of the annual additions to global renewable energy capacity. The global share of non-fossil fuels in energy consumption rose from 13.6% to 18.5%, with China contributing 45.2% to this increase. Through sustained technological innovation, a sound system of industrial and supply chains, sufficient market competition, and the advantages of a super-scale market, China's new energy industry has developed rapidly and led to a drastic decrease in the costs of wind and PV power worldwide. China has strengthened cooperation on green energy with Belt and Road countries, and launched a significant number of "small yet smart" people-centered programs that provide these countries with clean, safe and reliable energy supply solutions.
Finally, the white paper also vividly illustrates China's proposal of working with other countries to jointly build a clean and beautiful world. Addressing the challenge of climate change and achieving sustainable energy use concerns the wellbeing of mankind. China is willing to work with the international community to expand pragmatic cooperation on energy transition; keep global energy industrial and supply chains stable, promoting open, inclusive and non-discriminatory flow of green energy products and technology; fulfill its role as a responsible major developing country together with other countries to improve global energy access; work with other countries to uphold the principle of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities, and respective capabilities to tackle challenges posed by climate change and protect our planet for the sake of human survival.
That is all for my introduction. Thank you.